Eleven Years, Over a Million Page Views

I started writing this when I got my motorcycle license in my early forties. The first post was in March of 2013 when I decided to get my learner’s permit. From there I’ve tried to (as honestly as I can) describe my motorcycling experience. In that time I’ve gone through a bewildering array of bikes as I’ve figured out how I was going to enjoy this hobby. I noticed that the blog has just passed a million views (and messed up the odometer styled page counter), so thought it time for a review. Where have I wandered in the past 11 years of motorcycling? It all began with my Mum’s passing and an opportunity to ride without panicking those around me.

The First ’07 Ninja 650 seemed like a logical starting bike. From there I got my first fixer-upper in the form of a ’94 Kawasaki C10 Concours. Getting that out of a hedge, sorting it out and putting lots of miles on it felt like a big win, but I was still learning and when the carbs went on me, I lost the plot with it. That’s one of those ‘Costanza moments’ when I wish I could have a do-over – I’ve got the tools and knowhow now to sort them out!

The KLE dual sport was too small for me (couldn’t get me to 100kms/hr which is dangerous on our increasingly crowded and impatient local roads), so it came and went. I also dabbled with an old Yamaha XS1100, but never got it road worthy so it doesn’t make the list. Then there was the PW80 I got for Max which he wanted nothing to with, so it came and went. Neither of them cost me anything (I broke even on both) so, whatever.

With the Concours acting up and a dead Midnight Special in the garage, I was prompted into the ’03 Triumph Tiger, which has been my longest serving machine (currently at 8 years and over 40,000kms travelled). The Tiger filled the gap for a long time and let me drop both the Yamaha and the Kawasaki. While the Tiger performed regular riding duty I came across a Honda Fireblade that had been sidelined for several years, got it for a song, fixed it up, rode it for a season and then sold it on for a small profit, which felt like a win.

During the early days of COVID the Tiger started acting up and I came across a 2010 Kawasaki GTR1400/Concours 14 for sale with low miles that had also been sidelined in a shed. I sorted out this complex bike and once again felt like my mechanicking skills had levelled up. With some extra contract work I’d done and the money from the Fireblade this step up to something more expensive didn’t eat into savings.

The C14 and Tiger are both still currently in the garage. In 2021, as COVID lingered, I came across an opportunity to try a vintage restoration. I had a choice of several bikes and took one that was the furthest gone, which in retrospect was a mistake (don’t get cocky, right?). I cleaned up this ratty old chopped 1971 Bonneville and got to the point where it sat in the corner of the garage because I’m too stingy to throw money at it. Lesson learned: if you want to go vintage, be prepared to pay through the nose for it and wait a lot for parts availability.

I let the Bonneville go this spring for what I paid for it (minus the new parts). It was a loss but it gave me something to do while the world stopped and I learned a lot. It was fun doing an archeological inspection of a machine that was almost as old as I am.

What’s next? I’ve never owned a new bike before. Following my shear perversity in terms of motorcycling, I’m tempted by a Moto Guzzi V85 TT. Partly because of the character, partly because I think they’re stunning and partly because it’s so not everyone else.

If it’s a black Ninja it’s 13 years ago, but
whatever, Facebook.

I noticed the other day that the blog has passed a million page views. It took since March of 2013 (when I started riding) to pull it off, so that’s just over 11 years, but a million is a bigger number than most people can conceive. Over the 4083 days this blog has been up it has averaged over 250 page views every day, which feels good. It provides information for people looking for details on some of the mechanics I’ve tackled, and it also gets good pickup on travel stories and bike tech. I’m hoping more travel stories are in the future.

Another story that popped up recently was the ride around Vancouver Island ten years ago. That would be the first time I rented a bike while away from home. It led to the Island Escape story in Motorcycle Mojo. What isn’t mentioned there is that prior to my wife’s conference we also rented scooters and went for an adventure to Butchart Gardens in Victoria.

More travel opportunities like that, or Max and I’s ride through the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, or down to the Indianapolis MotoGP race would be fantastic, it’s difficult to find the time though.

The other day I thought I’d get into the throttle controls on the Tiger and clean and lubricate all the bits (if you read this regularly you can guess where this is going). Everything plastic on this 21 year old bike is brittle and yep, the throttle cable adjuster broke. I’ve jury rigged a solution, but like everything else on this bike, finding parts is becoming ‘vintage difficult and expensive’, even though it’s anything but.

My biking decisions might be made for me if we decide to move. If we downsize into a condo or something without a garage I’d be tempted to clear the deck and get something new. At that point having something that someone else has to work on while it’s under warranty would make sense. I don’t know how long I’d be happy with no working space, but perhaps I’d end up getting in with a shop coop and having some space in a shared garage somewhere. My approach to motorcycling is quite isolating. A change in circumstances might be a good thing.

If every time I touch the Tiger to do maintenance (it needs regular TLC) the parts crumble in my hands, I don’t know how much longer I can keep it going. I’d really like to get it to six figures but beyond that I’m not sure – perhaps turn it into modern art?

I’m still also keen to pursue trials riding and perhaps long distance enduro with an eye for finishing rather than beating up machinery to attain top speeds. I’d do track days but I live in Ontario, which doesn’t make access to things like track days easy in a any way. Likewise with the off roading. It’s about, but it’s sporadic and they make it as difficult as possible. Living somewhere else might open up motorcycling opportunities that feel out reach here in the overcrowded and increasingly dark heart of Canada.

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